Concentration of ores.



HENRY HOWARD ennnnwey, or MELBOURNE,- vrc'ronm,

oFFIon.

AUSTRALIA, ASSIGNOR T0 MINERALS SEPARATION LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

CONCENTRATION OF ORES.

No Drawing.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY HOWARD GREENWAY, a subject of the King of England, residing at Melbourne, Victoria, Com monwealth of Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Concentration of Ores, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the concentration of ores and has been applied in practice to the'concentration of copper ores the object being tr separate certain constituents of the ore such as copper sudfids (for example in the form of copper pyrites) or metallic copper (natural or reduced) from other constituents such as gangue when the ore is suspended in a liquid such as water.

The present process is a modification of the invention described in U." S. patent to H. L. Sulman, A. H. Higgins and myself, .No. 962,678 granted June 28, 1910. The

' process therein described is applicable genorally to the recovery of metallic sulfids and like floatable metalliferous matter and in the case of lead and zinc sulfids to which the process has been largely applied it is necessary for efficient working that the pulp should be slightly acidified, and in most cases in-- practice the pulp is heated. It is now found that with copper ore such as an ore I containing copper pyrites effective separa tion is obtained in the cold without the use ofacid by employing as mineral frothing agents, aromatic hydroxy compounds such as phenol, cresol,1or mixtures containing the same. The process of concentrating ores containing copper sulfid or metallic copper according to this invention consists in mixing the powdered ore with watencontaining in solution a minute quantity of aromatw hydroxy compound such as phenol or cresol but without mineral acid and in thev cold, agi

tating the mixture to form a froth and separating the froth. The hydroxy compounds may be used in the form of compounds containing them, such as wood tar oil which contains cresol; or if a mixture of hydroxy compounds is preferred, they may be used as a compound containing them' such as Stockholm tar which contains substances of the phenol and cresol groups. If required there may be added to the water'a small pro- 0 portion of alkali to facilitate or efiect the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 9, 1911.

Application filed June so, 1911'. Serial No. 636,245.

solution of the aromatic hydroxy compound but it isimportant not to add such a quantity of alkali as will impair the formation or maintenance of the mineral bearing froth. The following is an example of one method of carrying this invention into effect. Water containing in solution a small quantity (in the examples hereinafter given 0.065% and 0.075%) of an aromatic hydroxy compound such as phenol or cresol or a mixture containing the same, is introduced with finely pulverized ore containing copper pyrites into an agitating apparatus in the proportion of say three or four partsby weight of water to one part by weight of ore. The agitation is carried out in such a Way as to disseminate air through the mixture which is thereafter discharged into a spitzkasten. The operation is carried out in the cold and no acid was used as a frothing agent, 1.45 lbs. pe

ton, ina neutral circuit at atmospherictemperature. The copper assay was as follows: Ore 2.15 per cent. Concentrates obtained as a froth *15.7 per cent. Tailings Tracethe results showingthat the extraction was perfect.

In another case, using Stockholm tar, a

substance containing a mixture of substances of the phenol and cresol groups, as

the frothing agent, 1.67 lbs. per ton, under same ore, the copper assay was as follows:

Ore 2.5 per cent. Concentrates 16.1 per cent. Tailings 0.3 per cent.

the results showing that there Was an extraction of 90 per cent.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is -1. A processot' concentrating ores which consists in mixing a powdered ore with neuthe same conditions as before, and on the r tral-water containing in solution a minute quantity of an aromatic hydroxy compound, agitating the mixture to form a froth and separating the froth.

2. A process of concentrating ores which consists in mixing a powdered ore with neutral water containing in solution a minute quantity of an aromatic hydroxy compound,

agitating the mixture in the cold to form a froth, and separating the froth.

3. A process of concentrating ores which I consists in mixing a powdered ore containing copper w1th neutral water containing in solution. a minute quantity of an aromatic hydroxy compound, agitating the mixture to form a froth, and separating the froth.

4. A process of concentrating ores which consists in mixing a powdered ore containing copper with neutral water containing in solution a minute quantity of an aromatic hfydroxy compound, agitating the mixture in the cold to form afroth, and separating the froth.

5. A process of concentrating ores which consists in mixing a powdered ore with neuconsists in mixing a powdered ore containing copper with neutral water containing in solution a minute quantity of a mixture of aromatic hydroxy compounds, agitating the mixture to form a froth, and separating the froth.

- solution a minute quantity of a mixture of 8. A process of concentrating ores which consists in mixing a powdered ore containing copper with neutral water containing in aromatic hydroxy' compounds, agitating the.

mixturein the cold to'form a froth, and separating the froth.

9. A process of concentrating ores which consists 1n mlxing a powdered ore with neutral water containing in solution a minute quantity of cresol, agitating the mixture to form afroth, and separating the froth.

10. A process of concentrating ores which consists in mixing a powdered ore with neutral water containing in solution a minute quantity of cresol, agitating the mixture in the cold to form a-froth, and separating the froth,

11. A process of concentrating ores which consists in mixing a powdered ore containing copper with neutral water containing in solution a minute quantity of cresol, agitating the mixture to form a froth, and separating the froth.

12. A process of concentrating ores which consists in mixing a powdered ore :containing copper with neutral water containing in solution a minute quantity of cresol, agitating the mixture in the cold to form a froth, and separating the froth.

13. A process of concentrating ores which consists in mixing a powdered ore .with neutral water containing in solution a minute quantity of wood tar oil, agitating the mixture to form a froth, and separating the froth. 1

14. A process of concentrating ores which consists in mixing a powdered ore with neutral water containing in solution a minute quantity of wood tar oil, agitating the mixture in the cold to form a froth, and separating the froth.

15. A process of concentrating ores which consists in mixing a powdered ore containing copper with neutral water containing-in solution a minute quantity of wood tar oil, v

agitating the mixture to form a froth,' and separating the froth.

' 16'. A process of concentrating ores which consists'in mixing a powdered ore containing copper with neutral Water containing in solution a minute quantity of wood t'ai' oil,

agitating the mixture in the cold to form a froth, and separating the froth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my- ,name to. this specification in the presence'of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY HOWARD GREENWAY.

Witnesses:

J. M. MANGHAN, D. SEDDON. 

